HOLKER Old Boys’ play-off hopes in the Hallmark Security North West Counties Division One suffered a blow at Rakesmoor on Saturday as they lost 5-3 to Eccleshall.

Skipper Phil Coombe put Holker ahead and Brandon Collins increased the lead midway through the first half. But the visitors responded immediately and were level within three minutes and then took the lead shortly before half-time.

Ten minutes after the break it was 4-2 to Eccleshall before Brad Hubbold pulled a goal back on the hour mark.

Holker strived to find an equaliser but Eccleshall made their long trip from Staffordshire worthwhile with a late goal to seal victory.

Billy Moss was awarded Holker’s man-of-the-match award for an industrious display. Holker’s next game is away to Atherton LR tomorrow.

In the West Lancashire League it was a poor day for local sides across all three divisions with just a couple of draws to show for their efforts. Our Premier Division side, Vickerstown, were at home to North West Counties-bound Longridge Town and lost 5-2.

Vickerstown were in the game until the last 10 minutes when the visitors scored twice to take the three points. Scorers for Vickerstown were Danny Cummings and Sean Paterson.

GSK Ulverston Rangers made the long trip to Stoneclough in Division One for the second time where a Kurt Robertson goal secured a point from a 1-1 draw.

It was a much nicer day than earlier in the season when the match had to be abandoned. Crooklands Casuals went down 4-0 at home to a CMB side who are still in with a chance of promotion, and Hawcoat Park lost 6-2 at Lytham Town. The Hawcoat goals came from Hakan McCracken and an own goal. Millom’s Division Two promotion hopes suffered a blow at Padiham reserves as they lost 2-1, with Carl Waters getting the goal.

The title looks beyond them but promotion is still in their own hands. Furness Rovers’ unbeaten run continued with a 1-1 draw at Euxton Villa reserves thanks to a goal from Joe Bradbury.

Dalton United lost 2-0 at home to champions-elect Leyland United while Furness Cavaliers and Walney Island both lost on the road. Walney went down 3-1 at Thornton Cleveleys reserves with James Bailey on target, while Cavaliers only had a Robbie Bell penalty as consolation as they lost 6-1 at Tempest United.

Two midweek games of interest this week see Hawcoat Park host Crooklands Casuals in Division One tomorrow, while Millom and Furness Cavaliers meet at Rakesmoor on Thursday in the Furness Senior Cup.

In the Furness Premier League, Riflemans Garage Premier Division champions Hawcoat Park reserves won 5-2 at Swarthmoor Social with goals from Craig Salton (2), Carl Pearson (2), and Frankie Ellis. Graham Wilcox scored both for Swarthmoor.

The sides had drawn 1-1 on Thursday in the Terry Clinton Memorial Trophy with Hawcoat keeping their treble hopes alive by winning on penalties. Two other teams who progressed in that competition last week were Bootle and Barrow Celtic and they played out a 0-0 draw in the league on Saturday.

A tough schedule of games appeared to catch up with Croftlands Park as they led 4-1 against Coniston but drew 4-4, with Coniston also missing a last-minute penalty. Coniston’s scorers were Andrew Warne (2), Tommy Clarke and Ben Dugdale.

Last Thursday also saw Holker Old Boys reserves and Vickerstown reserves make progress in the Terry Clinton.

Millom A secured the Premier Tiles Division One title with a 2-1 win at Askam United reserves thanks to goals from Steve Grieve and Ryan Edgelar.

It’s been a great couple of seasons for them after they won the Division Two title last year.

The other two games in Division One involved sides in the relegation scrap, and Swarthmoor reserves ensured their survival with a 2-1 win at Barrow Celtic reserves through goals from Jack Moore and sixteen-year-old Luke Armstrong.

Furness Rovers reserves gave themselves a lifeline by beating Ormsgill North End 7-0. It was 0-0 after 30 minutes but Ormsgill suffered an injury and didn’t have any substitutes. Scorers for Rovers were Will Heywood (3), Jamie Edgley (2), Steve McGarry and Owen Woodburn.

Croftlands Park reserves are four points behind leaders British Legion at the top of Division Two with two games in hand after they won 2-0 at a very youthful Millom St James, with goals from Lewis Jones and Taylor Birch.

Britannia reserves are condemned to finishing botton of the table after they lost 4-3 at home to Holker Old Boys A. Scorers for the Brit were Liam Holmes (2), and Connor Robinson with McHugh (2), Cook and Jefferson on target for Holker.

On Friday night Kirkby United reserves beat Barrow Celtic A 4-0 with goals from Paul Cleasby (2), Dan Marshall and Josh English.